The Derby was a true run race and the best horse won and as the English say, that any horse that makes his own pace at a mile or over from the drop of the flag to the finish must certainly be the best horse. It was Alan-a-Dale all through the race. The crowd yelled and cheered itself hoarse even those who bet and lost on other horses in the race, joined in the cheering. When it was over it was a sight worth going a thousand miles to see. It seemed as though everybody was looking for the popular owner, T. C. McDowell to shake him by the hand and congratulate him.
The pace was fast for the first mile and then it dropped off badly, but when one really notices how fast Alan-a-Dale went the first mile in the race, they will not wonder that the last quarter was so slow. A first glance at the time of the race one would think from a time standpoint that it was a bad race, but when compared with other races of its kind, you will see that in all races that are fast run the horses who make the fast time generally rate along instead of running the first part of it real fast. In his race, Alan-a-Dale, according to our timing ran as follows: ⅛ :12½, ¼ :25, ⅜ :37½, ½ :49¾, ⅝ 1:02½, ¾ 1:14¾, ⅞ 1:27½, 1 mile 1:40¾; 1⅛ miles 1:54½ and 1¼ miles in 2:08¾.
Of course, the winner tired greatly after setting the terrific pace he did in the early part of the race, but the other horses also tired as much by trying to keep within striking distance of him. Abe Frank, although conceding the winner, Alan-a-Dale, Inventor, the second horse and The Rival, the third horse, five pounds each, was only beaten a scant length by Alan-a-Dale and a half length and a neck by Inventor and The Rival. It was a great race to watch from start to finish. At the finish of the race all four jockeys were riding like demons, and the favorite, Abe Frank, was beaten because he was not the best horse at the weights that day. Inventor and The Rival, second and third horses in this race were well ridden and ran gamely, but there is no way they could have been closer up at the finish no matter in what way they would have changed their running. All the glory and honor belongs to Alan-a-Dale and his popular owner and trainer, Mr. T. C. McDowell of Lexington, who in spite of winning this great event, has also a great misfortune to bear as Alan-a-Dale has broken down and it is doubtful if he will ever face the starter again.
TWENTY-NINTH DERBY 1903
Louisville, Ky., May 2, 1903. Weather fine, track fast. 1¼ miles, time 2:09. Value to winner $4,850, second $700, third $300. Nominations not given.
| Judge Himes, 117, H. Booker | 1 by | ¾-ls | |
| Early, 117, Winkfield | 2 by | 4-ls | |
| Bourbon, 110, Crowhurst | 3 by | 6-ls |
Bad News, Woodlake, Treacy also ran. Betting 5 to 3 on Early, 4 Bourbon and Woodlake coupled, 12 Himes. Poor start. Won driving, place easily. Himes ran an excellent race.
Judge Himes, ch c by Esher—Lullaby. Owned by C. R. Ellison, trained by J. P. Mayberry.
Within the shadow of the wire, Judge Himes snatched from Early the twenty-ninth Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs to-day. It may have been the over confidence of Winkfield that lost to the favorite the blue ribbon event of the Blue Grass State. Bourbon, six lengths off, was third, while Bad News, Woodlake and Treacy finished in the order named. It was a Derby run and won not by the touted, odds-on favorite, but by the much despised outsider, but be it said to the credit of colt and jockey, he was well piloted and when Judge Himes passed under the wire winner of the classic event, it was to the plaudits of all Kentucky. The victory was a surprise even to Mr. Ellison who had not thought his colt good enough to win.